There are so many activities to do in Morocco. After loads of research, we decided to skip Casablanca. It was further north, requiring another domestic flight and we didn’t feel it offered any different cultural experiences than Marrakech and Fez. As such, our trip focused on Marrakech to Fez. Here is my ultimate 10 day Morocco itinerary, including some optional day trips if you are willing to be a little on-the-go!
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Flights to Morocco
We flew into Marrakech and out of Fez. Our flights originated from Europe, so it was very cost-effective, even with one-way tickets, especially on low-cost airlines like Ryanair who regularly offer flights from Barcelona to Marrakech for $25. I recognize for Americans that may not be possible, but if you have some time flexibility, investigate flights to European hubs with cheaper connections into Morocco. Add 1-2 days on your trip and see another city in the process! I love Skyscanner for flight purchases but usually suss out the best flight days/schedule through Google Flights first. Shhhh don’t tell anyone else my secret!
Accommodations in Morocco
When we traveled to Marrakech and Fez we knew we wanted to stay in a riad in the medinas to get an authentic taste of local life. These guesthouses have interior courtyards, usually with beautiful rooftop views and colorful designs. Riads generally offer daily breakfast and often provide local guides for activities should you want a last-minute guide to explore. I love Booking.com for their extensive reviews and loyalty discounts. Be sure to read my “Don’t be an Idiot Abroad” series on Moroccan riads to avoid making some of the mistakes we did after booking.
ATMs in Morocco
Our GuruWalk tour guide gave us valuable advice in Marrakech that we followed the entire trip. He told us to visit the Post Office (Al Barid) and use their ATM exclusively. They don’t charge a fee and provide the best currency exchange (though if you read my post on debit card use when traveling, you will know to decline currency exchange at the ATM and that fees don’t matter with your Schwab debit card). 😊 However, we followed his advice because we had heard of other ATM machines “eating” cards, some issues of theft after withdrawal and other stories. There are currency exchange houses EVERYWHERE in Morocco; we saw the exchange rates all over the map and none of them seem to offer tourists a favorable rate. When we arrived in Marrakech, we took a little cash out at an airport ATM and then used the Al Barid for all future transactions. We felt safe and appreciated the advice.
Marrakech – 2 days (optional 3 days)
Marrakech is known as the Red City. While it felt a little touristy, it’s a must-stop in Morocco (but we purposely started here and would argue Fez is the best way to finish). One of the first things I always do when I arrive in a new country or city is check out GuruWalk for a local walking tour. This website curates local guides in each city that offer tours; it even allows you to filter based on language and time preference. Read reviews before you book and remember to tip the guide. I generally tip $10/person.
Your walking tour will undoubtably start in the Jemaa el-Fna, the heart of Marrakech, filled with snake charmers, food stalls and lots of street vendors. The square is a major entry point into the vast network of winding passages of the medina and in the evening this place comes alive with even more performers and snake tamers (be warned: if you take pictures, the vendor will expect a payment, but just a few MAD is enough).
If your budget allows (ours didn’t), you can visit the famed Jardin Majorelle and Yves Saint Laurent Musuem. Use their official website for tickets. You can also schedule a visit to a traditional Moroccan hammam, a spa experience where you are scrubbed from top to bottom and relax in sauna-like rooms.
Optional: Optional to take an overnight trip to Agadir or Essaouira. We choose to go to Agadir for the more modern, surfer vibe. Buses leave Marrakech every few hours and it takes about 3 hours each way (usually $20 one way). Most of the town was under major renovation, but we enjoyed our time here. It’s definitely worth taking the cable car to visit the Kasbah, or Agadir Oulfa, which is a historical fort on the mountain top with amazing views of the city and beaches below. If you don’t want to pack and unpack for one night, consider this day trip from Marrakech to Agadir.
Desert Safari from Marrakech to Fez – 3 days
There are a lot of different tours that take you into the Moroccan desert, but we knew we wanted one that doubled as transportation from Marrakech to Fez (and we were really glad to cut a travel day). We selected a tour that included camel rides in the desert, overnight camps and of course a stop at the famed Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – the location of Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy and even Game of Thrones. We had the best time, and it was definitely a highlight of our time in Morocco. Riding camels at sunset with nothing but the desert sand around you is a lifetime experience. You truly recognize how small you are in the world. Camping under the stars, with local music surrounding a campfire and drinking all the Berber whiskey (mint tea) you can handle is truly magical.
Note: You don’t want to take a tour that ends in Merzouga, as this is quite remote and will require another long bus ride back to Marrakech or Fez.
Fez – 3 days
You will arrive somewhat car tired in Fez after a great 3 day stint in the desert but be prepared for an amazing ending to your trip. Fes, known as the Yellow City, was my favorite city in Morocco. The vendors aren’t as pushy, and the crowds are fewer. You can sign up for another local walking tour with GuruWalk or start exploring the Fes el-Bali (old medina) when you arrive. Visit the Chouara Tannery to see how they’ve been dying leather for more than 1,000 years. Local guides will stand outside the tannery offering tours for small tips (be sure to check pricing before you start). They give you fresh mint to help offset the smelly process, which includes pigeon poop and cow pee.
There are several madrasas, or Islamic schools, that are open to the public (read non-Muslims). Al-Attarine and Bou Inania both offer stunning architecture and intricate tile and woodwork. At the western entry to the medina, stop by Bab Bou Jeloud or Blue Gate for some amazing photos. There are several local restaurants just inside the gate that offer good local dishes like tagine and chicken pastilla. Moroccan cuisine is very reasonable, and while alcohol is found in more limited quantities, Berber whiskey (or mint tea) is readily available.
We also enjoyed hiking up to the Marinad Tombs with panoramic views of the city (though seeing women fill their buckets with water that runs off through the cemetery was a little concerning). The Fandouk Bazaar and Rainbow Street are both great spots for some local art and souvenirs.
Lastly, the doors at the Royal Palace are gorgeous! You can’t go inside, but strolling along the outside is worth a stop. You can also visit the beautiful gardens of Jnan Sbil on the way from the Blue Gate to the Palace.
Day Trip to Chefchaouen
While it’s about 4 hours each way and my friend was weary of another long bus day, I’m really glad we did this day trip to the blue pearl city of Chefchaouen. It includes hotel pickup and a few stops along the way, with plenty of time to explore the blue city. I think the city is gorgeous and lives up to more hype than Santorini in Greece (disagree with me!). But I have to admit that what sold me on the trip was another traveler’s recommendation of an authentic Chinese restaurant in the city center - 成都印象川菜餐厅 La Petite Chengdu Chinese Restaurant. Having lived in China, I’m always on the lookout for authentic dishes and after more than a week eating tagine, it was a nice change.
Best Time of Year to Visit Morocco
We visited Morocco in early February, which is still winter. The weather was mild along the coast (so we didn’t wear swimsuits in Agadir) but was pretty chilly in the mountains and desert at night. My friend wore all her layers from her overnight bag for the desert and two blankets and was still shivering. I was fine with my jacket but know spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) have more pleasant temperatures for your desert safari. There are also fewer tourists during the spring and fall and the cities, like Marrakech and Fez, won’t be quite as crowded as the summertime. I would suggest bringing layers no matter when you visit, as temperatures can range 30 degrees (Fahrenheit) from day to night.
Remember Morocco is a Muslim country and modest clothing is recommended, especially for women. For more information about what to wear in a Muslim country, check out my post here. French and Arabic are largely spoken, so learning a few basic Arabic phrases will help you (especially “no thank you”) 😊
Budget for Your Morocco Trip
Because we were two girls on a budget, we selected riads and accommodations on the cheaper side. We knew we wanted to splurge (a little) on the multi-day desert safari, so we budgeted $30-$40/night for accommodations (total, not per person). If you decide to stay in more Western accommodations or upscale riads, I would budget $100 nightly. We could generally eat lunch and dinner for $10/person (that was usually a nicer, sometimes foreign meal). Expect to tip ~10% to your guides for any tours (based on the cost of the tour). You will likely also want to participate in local traditions. We visited a 4-star hammam spa and got henna tattoos from a local vendor, so budget for these accordingly (maybe another $50-$75/person), plus any souvenirs from the medinas of course.
Accommodations/person for 10 days: $200
Local Activities (including overnight safari trip): $400
Tips: $65
Food: $200-$250
Local Buses/Transport: $100
Overall, 10 days in Morocco can be very budget friendly. This does not include flights into and out of the country. We purposely chose a safari trip that started in Marrakech and ended in Fez in order to cut down on an extra travel day between the cities.
Morocco Travel Tip
When visiting Africa, don’t forget your power adapters for Morocco. They use Type C and Type E sockets, which are different than our American plugs. My favorite universal adapter on Amazon is currently on sale and helps convert everything, including power cords with USB or USB-C type entry. Visit my Amazon Storefront for packing essentials and ideas for modest clothes.
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Hope this post helps you plan your 10 day Morocco itinerary and provides some helpful travel tips when visiting Morocco. I really enjoyed my time there, but I would definitely encourage #femalesolotravelers to go with a friend (or several). I am glad I had a friend on this leg of my #adultgapyear for safety, though we generally had no issues bigger than getting hassled by the street vendors.
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